Mo Li

On the stage, Yao Ji held a multicolored embroidered ball in her hands, smiling as she gazed at the crowd below. The men in the audience were all staring excitedly at the small ball—whoever caught it would have the chance to spend a night with the capital's most renowned dancer. For these ordinary men who usually couldn’t even dream of catching a glimpse of Yao Ji, this was an irresistible temptation. Yao Ji’s eyes landed on Ye Li, and she arched an eyebrow at her with a radiant smile. Ye Li frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart. Before she could figure it out, Yao Ji suddenly raised the embroidered ball and threw it forcefully in her direction.

A chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd. Those too far away could only curse in frustration, while those nearby fixed their eyes on the flying ball, raising their hands high to seize this heaven-sent stroke of luck.

From the moment Yao Ji lifted her hand, Ye Li had already guessed the intended direction of the throw. Of course, Yao Ji wasn’t aiming for her—she was targeting Mo Xiuyao, who stood behind her. After releasing the ball, Yao Ji even arched a delicate eyebrow at Ye Li, silently mouthing words. Though no sound came out, Ye Li, skilled in lip-reading, had no trouble deciphering the message: "Do you think he’ll catch it?" Ye Li cursed inwardly and turned to pull Mo Xiuyao away. Under normal circumstances, with their agility, dodging a small embroidered ball would have been effortless. But now, they were tightly packed in the crowd, unable to move even a step, let alone evade.

Mo Xiuyao glanced down at Ye Li, who was tugging at his sleeve, and chuckled softly. With a casual wave of his hand, he swatted the incoming ball, sending it flying in another direction.

As the ball changed course, the crowd surged toward its new trajectory. Mo Xiuyao wrapped an arm around Ye Li, shielding her from the jostling crowd, and teased, "A Li, were you nervous just now?" Ye Li snorted lightly and looked back at the stage. Yao Ji showed no disappointment at having her ball deflected. Instead, she smiled even more bewitchingly at Ye Li, silently mouthing, "Congratulations." Ye Li gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

The multicolored embroidered ball was fiercely contested among the crowd, snatched from one person’s grasp only to be seized by another in the blink of an eye. The intensity of the struggle was astonishing. But no matter how many fought over it, the battle couldn’t last forever. Just as a burly man, relying on his superior strength, was about to claim victory and grab the ball, a striking figure soared over the crowd, stepping lightly on shoulders. With a swift kick, he knocked the man’s hand away and sent the ball flying back toward the woman on the stage.Amid the disappointed exclamations of the crowd, a swift figure darted onto the stage, catching the embroidered ball just before it could land on Yao Ji. On the stage stood a young man in brown brocade robes, leisurely positioned beside Yao Ji. His handsome, chiseled features carried a rugged and forthright air, more pronounced than the typical men of Great Chu. Yet the sharp glint in his half-smiling eyes revealed he was no simple-minded brute. Casually toying with the embroidered ball in his hand, he grinned at the man who had landed back in the crowd below. "Since this young master has no interest in Yao Ji, he could have simply watched from the sidelines. Kicking her embroidered ball back like this is rather discourteous. They say Great Chu is a land of poetry and propriety, yet your actions are quite... ungentlemanly."

The man in the crowd, Mu Yang, heir to Marquis Muyang Manor, scowled and vaulted onto the stage without a word, striking at the brown-robed man with a palm strike. The latter, clearly prepared, sidestepped effortlessly. The two began exchanging blows on the stage, much to the delight of the onlookers below. Since they couldn’t win the beauty’s favor, a lively spectacle was the next best thing. Ordinary folk, with little to their name, seldom clung to lofty aspirations.

Ye Li leaned against Mo Xiuyao, studying the man fighting Mu Yang with curiosity. His appearance alone made it clear he wasn’t from Great Chu. "Is he... from Northern Rong?" Ye Li’s impression of Northern Rong wasn’t favorable—her last encounter had been during her wedding last year, when the thirteenth prince of Northern Rong left an appalling memory. This one, however, seemed to have the leisure to indulge in such frivolities. Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "Word arrived earlier that Northern Rong’s wedding envoy arrived in Great Chu ahead of schedule. I hadn’t expected him to reach the capital so soon." Ye Li arched a brow, glancing back at him. "You know him?"

"Yelv Ye, the seventh prince of Northern Rong," Mo Xiuyao said gravely. "Mu Yang is no match for him."

Ye Li nodded slightly. Even in just a few exchanges, she could tell. Mu Yang’s skills were commendable, but they paled in comparison to Yelv Ye’s battle-hardened prowess. It wasn’t Mu Yang’s fault—Great Chu valued both martial and literary arts, but noble families often steered their children toward official careers rather than the battlefield, where life hung by a thread. For someone as young as Mu Yang to excel in both was no small feat. Northern Rong, however, was entirely different—a land beyond the pale, though influenced by Central Plains culture, still revered strength and raw power. As one of the Northern Rong king’s most capable sons, Yelv Ye had been forged in the crucible of war since his teens.However, after just over a hundred moves, Mu Yang began to fall behind. Yelv Ye, on the other hand, was clearly gaining momentum, attacking fiercely and forcing Mu Yang into a desperate retreat. Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiuyao and couldn't help but frown. She didn’t want Mo Xiuyao to step onto the stage—win or lose, it would inevitably cause an uproar. Yet neither she nor Mo Xiuyao could stand by and watch Mu Yang get injured by Yelv Ye. Yao Ji, who had been momentarily distracted, snapped back to reality when she saw Mu Yang on the verge of defeat. Frustrated, she exclaimed, "Who asked you to meddle? I was throwing my Embroidered Ball—what does it have to do with you?"

Yelv Ye laughed heartily. "Miss Yao Ji is right. Young Master Mu, since you kicked the Embroidered Ball back, what’s the meaning of this now?"

Mu Yang glanced at Yao Ji but remained silent, continuing to fend off Yelv Ye’s relentless attacks. Even those in the audience who knew nothing about martial arts could see he was struggling. Yelv Ye snorted coldly, as if finally losing patience, and said with a smirk, "Since the young master has nothing to say, don’t interfere with my pursuit of beauty. Begone!" With a sharp cry, he struck a palm toward Mu Yang’s chest—a blow so powerful it seemed capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks. Yao Ji, standing nearby, couldn’t help but cover her mouth in shock and scream, "No!"

The stage wasn’t large, and Yao Ji was close to the two men. Seeing Mu Yang in danger, she let out a cry and threw herself forward with all her might. Trained in martial arts since childhood, she was agile and quick, and in her desperation, she managed to wedge herself between Mu Yang and Yelv Ye. Just as Yelv Ye’s palm was about to strike Yao Ji—

The spectators below couldn’t bear to watch and shut their eyes. Earlier, the two men’s fight had already shattered parts of the stage. If this blow landed on Yao Ji, the delicate beauty would surely perish on the spot.

"Whoosh—" A streak of silver light flashed past. Yelv Ye felt a glint before his eyes and immediately withdrew his palm, retreating several steps to steady himself. Yao Ji, pale-faced, collapsed into Mu Yang’s arms. Expecting death, she was stunned to find the strike hadn’t landed on her. Opening her eyes, she met Mu Yang’s gaze, filled with worry and anger. Remembering their current predicament, her heart sank, and she pushed herself away from him.

Yelv Ye stood with his hands behind his back, glancing sideways at the Pearl Hairpin embedded in a nearby pillar. Though it was just an ordinary silver hairpin with pearls, it had sunk deep into the wood, leaving only the pearl flower visible—proof of the thrower’s formidable skill. Had he not retracted his palm in time, Yelv Ye was certain the hairpin would have pierced his wrist. Turning toward the source of the hidden weapon, his eyes fell upon a young couple dressed in understated elegance. The woman was graceful and refined, her bearing exuding a noble air uncommon among Chu women. The man wore a mask, his moon-white robes lending him an aura of serene majesty.

Raising an eyebrow, Yelv Ye smirked. "This young master already has a beauty in his arms. Could it be you also have an interest in Miss Yao Ji?"Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly, "Prince Yelv, you jest. My wife is naturally kind-hearted and cannot bear the sight of blood. It matters not if the prince gets carried away and acts without restraint, but it would be unfortunate if she were frightened." Hearing this, Mu Yang turned back in surprise, spotting Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li in the crowd. He paused briefly, nodding slightly without revealing their identities.

Yelv Ye, caught off guard by having his identity exposed, narrowed his eyes as he studied Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. After a long moment, he chuckled, "So it's... I never expected to meet the Prince and Princess here. What a pleasant surprise."

Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently, "Nor did I expect to encounter Prince Yelv in such a place."

Yelv Ye smiled without responding, deftly sidestepping Mo Xiuyao's implied accusation of his unauthorized presence in Chu Capital. Instead, he pointed at Yao Ji and said, "Since His Highness has no intention of competing for Miss Yao Ji, does that mean she still belongs to me?"

"Not a chance!" Mu Yang growled, stepping forward to shield Yao Ji behind him.

Yelv Ye scoffed disdainfully, smirking at Mu Yang. "Why not ask Miss Yao Ji for her opinion, Young Master Mu? Perhaps she prefers the stronger one?"

Yao Ji stepped out silently from behind Mu Yang, moving to stand behind Yelv Ye under Mu Yang's stunned gaze. "Yao Ji! You—"

She smiled faintly, though her expression carried a trace of bitterness. "Today's rules were set by me, and I must abide by them. Thank you for coming all this way, Young Master Mu. Consider this the end of our years of friendship. Please, go back."

Mu Yang stared at her breathtakingly beautiful face, unable to speak for a long while. Yao Ji's smile gradually stiffened before she finally turned away, refusing to meet his gaze any longer.

By now, night had fallen, and the curfew was approaching. The crowd below, disappointed that the spectacle had ended, began dispersing. On the stage, Yelv Ye grinned down at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. "Your Highness, Princess, since fate has brought us together today, why not share a drink and catch up?"

Mo Xiuyao, holding Ye Li's hand, approached with a faint smile. "Prince Yelv, with a beauty in your arms, do you still have the heart for reminiscing with me?"Yelv Ye's eyes flashed with sharpness as he smiled and said, "My incompetent younger brother inadvertently offended Your Highness last year. Fortunately, Your Highness was magnanimous and did not hold it against him, allowing him to return safely to Northern Rong. I was just thinking of personally expressing my gratitude to Your Highness."

Mo Xiuyao nodded generously. "A guest is a guest. This prince is not a petty man. There's no need for Prince Yelv to dwell on such a trivial matter."

Mo Xiuyao felt not the slightest remorse for making the already foolish Yelü Ping even more foolish. In fact, he considered it quite an achievement in self-restraint to have let the man return alive at all.

Yelv Ye felt a pang of frustration, wishing he could strike Mo Xiuyao dead with a single blow. Had Mo Xiuyao simply killed Yelü Ping outright, he might not have been so furious. But instead, Mo Xiuyao had sent Yelü Ping to his sworn enemy, the Crown Prince—and even deliberately leaked the news to him. Fearing Yelü Ping might reveal confidential information to the Crown Prince, Yelv Ye had no choice but to go to great lengths to retrieve him.

Yet, when he finally rescued him, Yelü Ping had been reduced to a mindless fool. Of course, Yelv Ye was absolutely certain that before driving Yelü Ping to idiocy, Mo Xiuyao had thoroughly extracted every last bit of information he knew.

Not a single member of the Ding Royal Palace should be left alive in this world—Father was right.

"Is this Princess Ding?" Yelv Ye, knowing he was no match for Mo Xiuyao in verbal sparring, swiftly shifted his attention and smiled at Ye Li. "I am Yelv Ye, the Seventh Prince of Northern Rong. Greetings, Princess."

Standing beside Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li smiled softly. "Greetings, Prince Yelv."

Yelv Ye appraised her with bold scrutiny. "On my way to the capital, I heard that the princess was a heroine no less remarkable than any man. I had imagined… but to think she would be such an elegant beauty? King Ding is truly fortunate."

A fleeting shadow of murderous intent flashed in Mo Xiuyao's eyes before vanishing just as quickly. He smiled at Yelv Ye. "You flatter us, Prince Yelv. This is hardly the place for conversation. Would the prince care to move to my humble abode for a brief visit?"

He glanced at the stage below. With only about a quarter of an hour left before the night curfew, the streets had long emptied. The festive decorations now seemed eerie and out of place with only a few of them remaining.

Yelv Ye smiled faintly. "It is an honor to receive King Ding's invitation, but the hour is late, and an unannounced visit to the Ding Royal Palace would be rather impolite. Another day, I shall personally pay my respects to Your Highness and the princess."

At this moment, accepting an invitation to the Ding Royal Palace was a decision no sane person would make. Seeing his refusal, Mo Xiuyao did not press further. "In that case, Xiu Yao and A Li shall take our leave. Prince Yelv and Young Master Mu…"

Yelv Ye chuckled. "I shall return to my inn as well. As for Miss Yao Ji, it was all just a jest earlier. I hope neither she nor Young Master Mu will take offense."

Mu Yang was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting him to back down so easily. Yao Ji also looked at Yelv Ye in surprise. Unfazed, Yelv Ye waved a hand. "I was merely intrigued by Young Master Mu's impressive skills and couldn't resist testing them. My apologies for any offense."

With such words, Mu Yang naturally had no reason to press the matter. He nodded. "Prince Yelv's skills are superior. I am humbled."Yelv Ye raised an eyebrow with a smile, about to speak when a cold glint flashed from the street corner. Several black-clad figures lunged toward them. Yelv Ye tilted his head to avoid the incoming blade and casually pushed an assassin aside with one palm, turning back to Mo Xiuyao with a laugh, "Your Highness, it seems the nights in Chu Capital are quite dangerous." Mo Xiuyao held Ye Li with one arm while his other hand gripped an assassin's wrist, applying slight pressure. The crisp sound of bones shattering echoed in the night. "Perhaps it's because of visitors from afar? I recall the capital nights being quite peaceful before." Yelv Ye laughed heartily without refuting.

On the other side, Mu Yang shielded Yao Ji while fending off attackers. Yao Ji's body was stiff—though she didn't want Mu Yang touching her again, she knew this wasn't the time for stubbornness. She remained motionless as he held her in his arms, her expression somber and sorrowful rather than fearful of the assassins.

The assassins quickly realized the three men before them were formidable. However, Mo Xiuyao and Mu Yang were each protecting a woman, leaving only Yelv Ye unencumbered and free to fight unrestrained. After exchanging glances, the assassins redirected their assault toward Mo Xiuyao and Mu Yang, reasoning that once these two were dealt with, the remaining man would be easy prey. Left momentarily aside, Yelv Ye raised an eyebrow, saw Mo Xiuyao handling his attackers effortlessly, and turned to join Mu Yang's fray.

Ye Li sighed helplessly in Mo Xiuyao's embrace. Though she knew he could easily handle the assassins, being shielded like this was unfamiliar to her. Yet the firm grip around her waist made it clear he had no intention of letting go. Resigned, she kept a careful watch on the surrounding assassins just in case.

Whoever these assassins were, they didn't seem particularly skilled. Bored and unable to intervene, Ye Li found their performance lackluster. Since marrying into the Ding Royal Palace, she had encountered plenty of assassins—these were mediocre at best. Watching the three men dispatch them effortlessly, she frowned. This felt less like an assassination attempt and more like a staged performance for someone's benefit. Even without the hidden shadow guards of Prince Ding's Estate or Yelv Ye's own retinue, any one of these three men alone could have handled these attackers easily.

"Look out!" As Yelv Ye took down the last assassin, Yao Ji immediately pushed Mu Yang away and retreated. Mu Yang stared at her distant figure with a bitter smile before turning to thank Yelv Ye. But a straggler seized the moment to hurl a hidden weapon at Yao Ji. Ye Li gasped, instinctively grabbing a jade pendant from Mo Xiuyao's waist and flinging it. With a sharp clang, the weapon was deflected, and the pendant shattered into pieces on the ground.

Author's Note:

Just as I was writing, my computer restarted—how annoying! Another earthquake in Sichuan—wishing everyone safety. Praying for Ya'an, may heaven protect Sichuan!